"[That is] where a lot of these emerging infectious diseases arise, so it gives us great connection to medical skills and connections into Asia which are critical to the sort of work we want to do," Dr Fitt said.

"[The threat] is very real - things like Avian influenza we've seen emerge 10 years ago as a significant disease impacting on poultry and humans.

"We've got a new avian influenza that's appeared in China that is showing incredible mortality against humans.

"Some 60 per cent of those who catch it die."

The Australian scientists and Duke-NUS are already working together, with research underway aiming to develop early and rapid detection tests for diseases like the Hendra virus.

If they are developed, CSIRO staff will trial and validate the new tests at the Geelong facility.